The McLean
County Historical Society was organized in 1967 with the purpose "to
discover and collect any material which may help to establish or illustrate
the history of the area."

In 1969,
the Society researched and built Ft. Mandan, west of Washburn.
Construction was completed in 1972. The society leased Ft. Mandan to
the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Foundation in 1997.

The Society
has a great deal of history on Lewis & Clark and Sakakawea, including a
statue of her, plus a fine display of Indian artifacts.

Presently the
Society maintains two building on Main Avenue in Washburn. The
original building has been named after Fred Jefferies, the first curator.
This building originally was McLean County's second courthouse and now is on
the National Register of Historic buildings. The second building was
purchased in 1997 and is located next to the first.

In 1993,
a mural of Lewis & Clark was designed by William Reynolds of Washburn.
The picture was painted by Reynolds with help of several volunteers on the
outside west wall of the building east of the original museum.